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Heather Mills attacker sentenced Heather Mills attacker sentenced
(about 2 hours later)
A photographer who was found guilty of assaulting Heather Mills-McCartney as he tried to take her picture has been given a 140-hour community order.A photographer who was found guilty of assaulting Heather Mills-McCartney as he tried to take her picture has been given a 140-hour community order.
Jay Kaycappa, 32, of Fareham, Hampshire, was sentenced by Brighton magistrates after being convicted at a previous hearing.Jay Kaycappa, 32, of Fareham, Hampshire, was sentenced by Brighton magistrates after being convicted at a previous hearing.
The attack took place in a subway in the city on 5 July 2006.The attack took place in a subway in the city on 5 July 2006.
Kaycappa approached the estranged wife of Sir Paul McCartney and grabbed her right shoulder to swing her round.Kaycappa approached the estranged wife of Sir Paul McCartney and grabbed her right shoulder to swing her round.
He was also convicted of assaulting Ms Mills-McCartney's friend Mark Payne the next evening.He was also convicted of assaulting Ms Mills-McCartney's friend Mark Payne the next evening.
Chairwoman of the bench Juliet Smith also ordered Kaycappa, of The Hurdles, Fareham, to pay £100 to Ms Mills-McCartney, £50 to Mr Payne, and costs of £1,000.Chairwoman of the bench Juliet Smith also ordered Kaycappa, of The Hurdles, Fareham, to pay £100 to Ms Mills-McCartney, £50 to Mr Payne, and costs of £1,000.
'Trapped animal'
She said: "In both incidents you demonstrated persistence that in fact we consider to be beyond an acceptable level.She said: "In both incidents you demonstrated persistence that in fact we consider to be beyond an acceptable level.
"However your actions have not caused any injury." "However your actions have not caused any injury.
"We are satisfied that the offences are serious enough for a community order."
'Trapped animal'
During the trial, magistrates heard the assault happened as Ms Mills-McCartney cycled from her seafront home in Hove to Brighton.During the trial, magistrates heard the assault happened as Ms Mills-McCartney cycled from her seafront home in Hove to Brighton.
Ms Mills-McCartney was not in court for the sentencing
She was accompanied by her personal trainer Ben Amigoni, 23, Mr Payne and his partner Michael Shilub.She was accompanied by her personal trainer Ben Amigoni, 23, Mr Payne and his partner Michael Shilub.
The 39-year-old former model and anti-landmines campaigner told the court she ducked into the subway to avoid the paparazzi but was spotted by a photographer at the subway's exit.The 39-year-old former model and anti-landmines campaigner told the court she ducked into the subway to avoid the paparazzi but was spotted by a photographer at the subway's exit.
She told the court she "felt like a trapped animal".She told the court she "felt like a trapped animal".
Ms Mills-McCartney was not in court for the sentencing
Defence lawyers had argued that date and time stamps on a sequence of photographs suggested that Ms Mills-McCartney had lied about events.Defence lawyers had argued that date and time stamps on a sequence of photographs suggested that Ms Mills-McCartney had lied about events.
The three-day trial was told the freelance photographer had 132 criminal convictions for dishonesty offences.The three-day trial was told the freelance photographer had 132 criminal convictions for dishonesty offences.
Ms Mills-McCartney was not in court for the sentencing on Thursday.Ms Mills-McCartney was not in court for the sentencing on Thursday.
After the hearing, Kaycappa's solicitor Justin Rivett said his client would appeal against the conviction.
He said neither assault was intended to cause harm.
He added that the publicity surrounding the case had led to newspapers and agencies distancing themselves from Kaycappa for fear of harming their reputations.
Ms Mills-McCartney's spokesman Phil Hall said: "Heather is delighted that justice has been done and she hopes that the photographers will now leave her alone."